Replacing an asbestos roof: what's involved?

In the Netherlands asbestos is found most often in corrugated roofs of sheds, garages, barns and post-war homes. Those sheets are usually bonded — the asbestos is fixed in the material — but as soon as they break or weather, fibres can be released. That is why you don't remove an asbestos roof yourself: removal as a rule belongs with a certified company (SC-540) that dismantles the roof according to the rules, packages it and disposes of it as hazardous waste.

The route almost always starts with an asbestos survey by a certified firm. That report is usually needed for the demolition notification you submit to the municipality beforehand. The municipality checks the notification and may set conditions; the exact requirements and timelines differ per municipality and per situation. Count those steps into your planning — the removal itself is often done in a day for a single shed roof, but the preliminary steps set the lead time.

The price of removal runs roughly € 500 to € 7,000 per job and is mainly set by the surface, the height and accessibility of the roof and the disposal costs; the price index shows how that compares with the other asbestos jobs. A steep or high roof requires scaffolding, and several identical roofs in one street can often be taken more cheaply in one schedule.

After removal, also think about the new roof: taking off the old sheets and fitting a new roof covering are two different jobs, sometimes by different companies. Discuss in the quote stage who does what, and always request multiple quotes from certified companies. We only mediate; we remove nothing ourselves.